Why I Shake for 10 Minutes and Hum for 10 Minutes Every Day
A few months ago, a virus knocked me sideways.
Like many people, I expected to bounce back quickly. Instead, I found myself dealing with something I hadn't anticipated: exhaustion.
Not the kind of tiredness that a good night's sleep fixes. The kind that seems to settle into your bones. The kind that makes even simple tasks feel harder than they should.
As someone who is passionate about healthy ageing and living life fully, I started looking for ways to support my recovery. Not quick fixes. Not miracle cures. Just simple practices that might help my body do what it was designed to do, heal.
That's when I discovered two unusual daily habits that have become part of my routine:
10 minutes of shaking.
10 minutes of humming.
I know how that sounds.
If someone had suggested this to me a year ago, I probably would have smiled politely and changed the subject.
But sometimes the most unexpected things turn out to be surprisingly powerful.
Why I Started Shaking?
When I say shaking, I don't mean dancing or exercising.
I simply stand with my feet hip-width apart and gently shake my body, allowing my arms, shoulders, legs, and torso to move freely.
At first it felt awkward.
Now I look forward to it.
One of the things that fascinated me was learning that animals naturally shake after stressful events. Watch a dog after a frightening experience or a bird after escaping danger and you'll often see them shake before returning to normal activity.
Many practitioners believe that shaking can help release stored tension and stress from the body.
Whether that's exactly what's happening or not, I do know this:
After ten minutes, I feel lighter.
Looser.
More relaxed.
It's as if my body has been given permission to let go of something it no longer needs to carry.
The Power of Humming
After shaking, I spend ten minutes humming.
No special technique.
No perfect pitch required.
Just a gentle, steady hum.
What drew me to humming was learning about its connection to the vagus nerve, the communication highway between the brain and many of our major organs.
The vagus nerve plays an important role in helping the body shift into a calmer, more relaxed state.
Research has also explored how humming may increase nitric oxide production in the nasal passages, which is associated with several important functions within the body.
What I notice personally is simpler.
Humming slows me down.
It deepens my breathing.
It quiets the mental chatter.
And it leaves me feeling more grounded and present.
What I've Learned?
These practices haven't magically transformed my life overnight.
They haven't eliminated every symptom or solved every challenge.
What they have done is give me twenty minutes each day that feel nourishing.
Twenty minutes that remind me to listen to my body instead of pushing through exhaustion.
Twenty minutes that help me reconnect with myself.
As we get older, we're often told to look outside ourselves for solutions.
Sometimes the answers are simpler than we think.
Sometimes they begin with slowing down.
Sometimes they begin with paying attention.
And sometimes they begin with doing something that feels a little unusual.
Would I Recommend It?
If you're curious, perhaps.
You don't need any equipment.
You don't need any special training.
You simply need a willingness to experiment and see how your body responds.
As always, listen to your own body and seek professional advice if you have health concerns.
I'm not sharing this because I think it's the answer for everyone.
I'm sharing it because it's helping me.
And if you're navigating your own recovery, dealing with stress, or simply looking for gentle ways to support your wellbeing, perhaps it might be worth exploring.
After all, the best wellness practices aren't always the most complicated.
Sometimes they're as simple as shaking, humming, breathing, and being present.
I'd love to hear from you.
Have you ever tried shaking, humming, or another unusual practice that helped you feel better?
Share your experience in the comments below.
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